Flexible Ink Reservoir Unit for Stirring Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printing apparatuses face inefficiencies in stirring ink due to air presence between the sub tank and atmosphere communicating valve, leading to uneven concentration distribution and reduced stirring efficiency, resulting in image quality degradation.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet printing apparatus with a flexible ink reservoir unit between the sub tank and printing head, allowing air to be expelled from the sub tank without an atmosphere communicating passage, enabling efficient ink flow and stirring by varying the volume of the reservoir unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an atmosphere communicating passage is provided in the sub tank to prevent ink leakage, then ink leakage is prevented, but air remains between the sub tank and atmosphere communicating valve acting as a damper that reduces stirring efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the atmosphere communicating passage from the sub tank entirely, extracting the source of the problem (air pocket) while maintaining ink leakage prevention through the flexible membrane mechanism that allows controlled air displacement without creating a persistent dampering air layer
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane changes its volume parameter dynamically - expanding to push air into the main tank and contracting to receive ink from the main tank. This parameter change enables the system to prevent ink leakage while eliminating the stationary air pocket that acted as a damper, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and stirring efficiency
2Volume of moving object
If a flexible membrane is used in the sub tank to supply ink to the printing head, then space efficiency is improved and device size is reduced, but air must be managed to enable proper ink flow
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the air management function with the ink supply function by using the same flexible membrane to both supply ink to the printing head and manage air displacement. The membrane's expansion and contraction simultaneously controls ink flow and air movement between tanks, reducing device complexity by eliminating separate air management components
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane serves itself by using its own volume changes to both supply ink and manage air. When the membrane contracts, it creates negative pressure that draws air into the main tank automatically, eliminating the need for external air management mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration ensures thorough stirring of the ink, prevents ink leakage, and enhances space efficiency, allowing for nonstop printing with improved image quality by eliminating air as a damper in the stirring process.
Implementation Method 1
an ink reservoir unit formed of a flexible member, disposed between the sub tank and the printing head, in which the ink is supplied from the sub tank to the printing head by increasing the volume of the ink reservoir unit
Implementation Method 2
air in the sub tank is sent to the main tank by reducing the volume of the ink reservoir unit
Implementation Method 3
the flow of the ink in the main tank and the sub tank is utilized to stir the ink in the ink tank, thereby suppressing unevenness in density due to unevenness of concentration distribution in the ink tank
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an inkjet printing apparatus capable of achieving thorough stirring by producing a flow in a main tank and a sub tank. The inkjet printing apparatus includes a printing head, a main tank, and a sub tank. The apparatus includes an ink reservoir unit formed of a flexible member, disposed between the sub tank and the printing head. The ink is supplied from the sub tank to the printing head by increasing the volume of the ink reservoir unit, and air in the sub tank is sent to the main tank by reducing the volume of the ink reservoir unit.